Short-Term Nutritional Enhancement Combined With Health Education in Postoperative Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled clinical trial designed to assess the effects and underlying mechanisms of short-term nutritional enhancement combined with health education on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for non-metastatic colorectal cancer (stages IIa, IIb, IIIa). The rationale is based on the high prevalence of malnutrition among CRC patients, which significantly impacts treatment tolerance, quality of life, and long-term prognosis. Eligible participants will be randomized into four parallel arms: (1) individualized nutritional enhancement plus structured health education; (2) structured health education alone; (3) individualized nutritional enhancement alone; and (4) standard care without additional intervention. Personalized nutrition plans will be developed based on energy and protein needs, supported by dietary counseling and the provision of oral nutritional supplements. Health education will be delivered through a digital platform, featuring weekly videos and interactive content on nutrition, exercise, and psychological well-being. The study includes a 14-day intervention phase and a 12-month follow-up period. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, and at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months, and annually up to 5 years to evaluate both clinical outcomes and biological markers of response.post-intervention. Key endpoints include improvements in nutritional status, patient-reported quality of life, and overall survival metrics. To investigate mechanisms, the study incorporates biological sampling and multi-omics analysis. Non-targeted serum metabolomics, gut microbiota metagenomics, and single-cell RNA sequencing of tumor and adjacent normal tissues will be used to characterize metabolic and immune changes associated with the interventions. The study also evaluates the role of inflammatory markers and immune cell profiles in mediating clinical effects. This trial is expected to generate high-quality evidence supporting the integration of nutrition and health education strategies into standard postoperative care for CRC patients. It may also identify novel metabolic or microbial biomarkers associated with treatment response and prognosis, contributing to the development of precision nutrition approaches in oncology.